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Please join us on Tuesday evening, SEPTEMBER 8th,
when our special guest speaker will be:
Connie Stevens
It is rare that an actress can successfully transcend the
entertainment gamut from Motion Picture Star, Television Star, Broadway Star,
Recording Artist, to the concert stage and then on to develop a successful
cosmetic empire. In a career that has spanned over 50 years, Connie Stevens has
gained worldwide popularity and recognition as a multi-talented performer,
producer, and most recently, as a major force in the business arena, all the
while managing to remain a timeless classic beauty. Ever youthful, dynamic,
vivacious, versatile and savvy are the words used to describe the actress who
has truly earned the title of a "Woman for all Seasons." Her international reputation has made its
mark in show business history, having performed for 4 U.S. Presidents
at the White House and the Kennedy
Center, and her
dedication overseas for the U.S. Military in Vietnam and the Persian
Gulf as one of Veterans Across America's all time favorites.
Connie continues to headline in Las
Vegas and continues to perform in live concerts in Atlantic City, New
York, Los
Angeles, and every other major concert venue
worldwide. Her musical artistry began
when she first sang in a group called The Three Debs at age 16. She then went
on to record as a solo artist on the Warner Brothers label. Connie was the
first artist signed on Warner Brothers Records. She recorded two mega-hits in
the early sixties, "Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)", a duet with
Ed, "Kookie" Burns, on of the stars of the TV series "77 Sunset
Strip", and the number one record in the country in 1961, "Sixteen
Reasons". Connie recently recorded a beautiful Christmas Album, "Tradition"...
A Family at Christmas, with her daughters, Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher,
artists in their own right. Joely Fisher, co-star of the popular
"Ellen" television series and "Inspector Gadget"
(co-staring Matthew Broderick) and currently stars in "Till Death" with Brad
Garrett, and Tricia Leigh Fisher, whom you have seen as Heidi Fleiss for CBS or
Monica Lewinsky in "Starr Struck".
Every Star has an original claim to fame, and though she has since
become familiar to millions, it was her endearing and classic role as
"Cricket Blake" in the hit series "Hawaiian Eye" which ran
on ABC for four years and around the world for nine and made Connie Stevens a household name.
Becoming one of America's
teen idols of the 60's and one of the most popular role models for teenage
girls across the globe. Connie, to this day, is amazed at the international
craze that her character and image created making her a recognizable smile
around the world, she is truly iconic.
Connie's career as an actress began with her introduction by
Jerry Lewis in Paramount's
"Rock a Bye Baby". In the early 1960's, Connie appeared with heartthrob Troy
Donahue in a series of films which include "Parish" and "Palm
Springs Weekend". Connie later appeared in "Two on a
Guillotine", "The Grissom Gang" and "Never Too Late".
She then returned to the 1950's with a role in "Grease 2" starring
Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfieffer. Some of Connie's other films include
"Back to the Beach", with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, and
"Tapeheads", starring Tim Robins and John Cusack. Most recently, she
was in "James Dean Race with Destiny" and soon to be released
"Mickey Stern". Connie has
always maintained a steady line of various roles on television, receiving
critical acclaim for her controversial role and performance in the ABC-TV Movie
of the Week, "The Sex Symbol". Connie showed a powerful reserve of
dramatic talents that gave her thinly disguised portrayal of Marilyn Monroe a
life of its own. Connie starred opposite George Burns in the popular TV series,
"Wendy and Me". among others, "Starting from Scratch" with
Bill Daily, "Scruples", "Murder She Wrote" and the most
popular guest on "The Love Boat" having appeared more than fifteen
times. She was, of course, Neil Simon's
"Star Spangled Girl" on Broadway, co-starring Anthony Perkins and
Dick Benjamin. She has also been one of America's premier live performers,
headlining in Las Vegas
for over 15 years and the larger theater venues all over the United States.
Connie has also been twice elected unopposed as the National Secretary-Treasurer
of the Screen Actors Guild, an association with over 120 000 members. Stevens,
as a new filmmaker, completed producing and directing A Healing, a documentary
dedicated to the women, and the young warriors they attended to, who served in
the U.S.
/Vietnam
conflict. A Healing follows a three-week reunion journey through Vietnam with
100 women in 1997, who served in this conflict. Stevens' journeyed with them to
find closure to this bizarre interlude. This award winning documentary is their
story played out with compelling sensitivity, trust, compassion and drama.
Introduced by Jack Valenti, President of the Motion Picture Association of
America, "A Healing" which she personally directed and edited, the proceeds of
which will go to American veteran charities. Connie Stevens recently concluded
her feature film directorial debut on her motion picture "Saving Grace B.
Jones", to great beginning reviews, starring Michael Biehn...Tatum
O'Neal...Penelope Ann Miller and a truly outstanding cast of actors. The film is
a true American tragedy of biblical proportions set in the heartland of America
1951.
For her tireless work and support of others, Connie has been
honored and received the coveted 1991 'Lady of Humanities' award from the
Shriners Hospital, 'Humanitarian of the Year' by the Sons of Italy in
Washington DC, "The Vietnam Veterans Association of America", as well
as receiving 'The Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service' from the
United States Armed Forces, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed on
a civilian. In addition in 2008, Connie received the prestigious UCLA's
"ICON Award". Most recently she was honored by the Producers, Writers
and Directors Caucus with the American Spirit Award.
It is no wonder Connie Stevens can be considered "a
woman for all seasons." It's this kind of energy, determination, talent
and generosity that results in true success, and that's what truly defines the
word "Super Star."
ADMISSION: $10 PER PERSON, INCLUDES DINNER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th
at 6:30 P.M.
LOCATION: CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL (CORNER OF MELROSE AND VINE)
RETURNING GUESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO JOIN AS MEMBERS
RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST at ldesiante@gmail.com
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